Lowering the drink-driving limit in Scotland did not reduce the number of road traffic accidents, researchers have found.

The alcohol limit was cut from 80mg – as in England – to 50mg per 100ml of blood in December 2014.

Campaigners have repeatedly called for the rest of the UK to follow Scotland’s lead.

The alcohol limit in Scotland was cut from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood in December 2014

But the change, which means motorists who drink just one small glass of wine before driving risk breaking the law, ‘simply did not have the intended effect’ of reducing accidents, researchers said. In fact, the weekly accident rate north of the Border actually rose after the limit was reduced.

A team from the University of Glasgow compared accident rates in Scotland, England and Wales from January 2013 to December 2016 – covering the period before and after the new limit. Their findings were published in The Lancet.